Since this is my very first year as a virtual Housewalk Hostess please let me introduce myself. My name is Beth, and you might have seen my home before and just not realized it. This little photo that I took in 2010 gets around on Pinterest quite a bit. That is my son in front of our glowing Christmas tree a few years ago. Stick around and I’ll show you the 2012 version of this photo at the end of this tour.

Welcome to my home!

I’m going to admit something here—This year I decorated the front porch exactly like I did last year. I even recycled the DIY evergreen wreath by adding more fresh stems. I have been so busy decorating the inside that I haven’t had time to get a good photo of the porch, so I’m also going to recycle the photo of the front porch that I took last Christmas! We actually tell all of our friends and family to come in through the back door anyway, so since we are all friends here y’all come around back! This décor is new for 2012.

The staircase railing got a garland of evergreen. I’m a little bit of an evergreen fiend this year.

Our stockings are hung on the stairwell with care. Dangling stockings from heavy metal objects high atop my mantel freaks me out, so this seems safer, although my four year old did ask how Santa was going to reach the one at the top of the stairs. I told him Santa can climb stairs.

I bought these faux boxwood kissing balls at the same store in Pennsylvania Dutch Country where I spotted the galvanized bunting. They are so realistic looking that I don’t mind mixing in a little bit of faux greenery amid my fresh.

At the bend of the stairs sits a cute little tree in an old galvanized minnow bucket. Up North they have sap buckets. Down South we have minnow buckets! My mother had one of these trees when I was a little girl. We always called it a Ming tree, but Google now tells me that is not the name of it. Does anyone know what this tree is called?

It’s great having a tall husband to help hang the high decorations! Thanks, babe!

I have a bit of an obsession with gold leaf ornaments. I have been collecting them on vacations from all across the US for years. Every year when I hang them on my tree I am reminded of fun trips to Vermont or Vancouver. These matching glittery ones came from Walmart down the street, though. Oh, commercialism… Why must you be so tempting and easy? And glittery?

Moving into the kitchen now, are you surprised to see more greenery above the window? Evergreen fiend, I’m tellin’ ya… I found this curled wood pomander at Target. The icy branch wreaths have been in my decorating repertoire for many years. They are so simple and beautiful. This little sign makes me so happy. And a sweater tree on clearance? Yes, please.

I easily transitioned my Thanksgiving kitchen table decorations to Christmas decor by adding cute metal “ornaments” that I found at the Pottery Barn outlet in New York during our October trip.

The center piece stayed the same, but I added a cute polka dotted burlap fabric for a runner.

Into the dining room now for the final room of the tour. I don’t have any Christmas parties planned, so I’m keeping it simple in here this year.

I hand stamped these cute “Happy Happy Joy Joy” ornaments for the wreath ion my sideboard. Santa brought me a metal stamping kit this year, so I opened that gift a little early and got to work on these. They look very cute on a wreath. Beware those sharp edges, though!

That wraps up my 2012 Holiday Housewalk! I hope you guys enjoyed the tour. I’ll leave you with this year’s glowing tree photo. Can you believe how much my little man has grown in just two years? Four year olds can reach much higher on the tree than two year olds. He’s over the halfway point.

Thank you all so much for stopping by to visit my home this year. I’m extremely honored to be a part of this virtual housewalk with all the other amazing bloggers who are featured. Thanks for having me, Jenn!

Comments

Beth, so glad to have found your blog and a new follower! Your home is beautiful and love all the greenery touches. I too went a bit that way this year. Love your mantle and what a precious shot with your little one! Happy Holidays, Kris

Your home is gorgeous, and I love your semi-real wreaths. Totally stealing that idea! I mixed real and faux garland, but never thought about the wreath idea – duh. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home – new follower!

It is gorgeous Beth, simply beautiful! OK, I am embarrased to say I had no idea that was your son and tree that is so famous
Thank you for all your kind words on my fireplace, I have had so much fun getting to know you.
XO
Kristin

Thanks so much Jeanne! The door came from Southern Accents in Cullman, Alabama. They have great architectural salvage stuff there. I appreciate all of your pins this morning, too! Loved your Creatively Made Home series so much. I watched and devoured every single video!

I must admit…that photo of your son in front of your Christmas Tree was one of my very first pins on Pinterest. I have two ‘new’ grandchildren and because of your photo, I have made them ‘pose’ in front of our tree many times trying to get that one magical shot. I have enjoyed taking a peek into your home. It is absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas, Cherri

Absolutely stunning from that glowing tree to your metal stocking on the swag (it was like playing where’s Waldo – but in stocking form – once you told me you had the same one), to your glitzy Wal-Mart ornaments, to that glowing dough bowl and that ming tree (I had one last year and have no idea what it’s really called either)!

What I am trying to say so un-eloquently is that your house rocks Santa’s stockings off!

Oooohhhh!! Glowing dough bowl!!! You got my attention there – so pretty!! Your home is so beautifully decorated, cozy and festive! Congrats on being a part of this holiday house walk and thank you for opening your door to let us have a peek into your lovely home!

Hi Beth, your home is so lovely & pretty and I love your fireplace too:)! Great job styling for the holidays!!!I Love the picture of your son in front of your tree at night, that is what it is ALL about:)! Happy Holidays, Jen

I’ve considered building a staircase to nowhere in my one level home just so that I can decorate the rail with evergreens. It’s so warm and inviting. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always admired them in just about every Christmas movie I’ve ever seen. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of having an open rail staircase one day. Is that weird? Don’t answer that.

I loved this post! So warm and friendly. I love the invitation to come ’round back. Beth, your home is gorgeous and all of your Christmas decor is so cozy and warm. Thanks for sharing your home. This series is such a great idea and Jennifer did a great job of “casting” the line-up.

Your home is gorgeous…from the first time you step up to the front door to the back….I loved seeing every beautiful detail….I did the very same thing last year with the topiaries on my banisters..and doing it again this year….Your mantel describes the essence of your home….JOY!!!
Thanks for the tour Beth!

Your whole house is just beautiful. I love that you did two similar pictures of the Christmas tree with your son. You can really see how he grew at least a row of branches. It would be fun to see those two photos side by side.

Beth, what a stunning home you have! You’ve managed to strike the perfect balance between stylish perfection and homey coziness. Awesome work! I love the all the greenery (especially on the staircase!), and the snowman wreath on your back door. You did a beautiful job decorating! Thanks for sharing at Dare to DIY!

Um. Wow. I think that’s all I can say. Your home is just gorgeous. And it’s pretty all the time, but at Christmas? Magical. I love all the greenery on the stairway and the front door. And I’m totally digging the tree. And I just remembered that I wanted to make my own lighted bowl this year. I loved that when you posted it last year, too. Those stamped ornaments? Genius. And I think that I need to dig out my stamping set to make some, too.

Thanks so much for linking up to Dare to DIY! I’m thrilled that you were able to join.

Beautiful Beth…I love it, and of course I had to share your recent Christmas tree photo…your son is growing like my daughters. I wish we could talk time into standing still. Have a Merry Christmas…your home is beautiful! ~ Julie

Beth
Your home is just beautiful!!!! That picture of your son and the tree is a keeper! {at least 2 other people beat me to the mystery tree’s name~~~I too have a Norfolk Pine. They get really big if given the right conditions, but it takes forever, they grow slowly.}

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